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Hamilton junior crowned ‘Outstanding Teen’

Hamilton High School junior Hannah Gentz, 16, was crowned Miss Northeast Alabama’s Outstanding Teen on Sunday, July 15, at Southside High School, securing her third title as “Outstanding Teen.” Gentz (center) is shown with Amy Cummings (left) and Jarrod Landers, both co-directors of the Miss Northeast Alabama's Outstanding Teen Pageant.

HAMILTON - Hamilton High School junior Hannah Gentz has won another title and a chance to compete in the Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen scholarship pageant in March.

Gentz, the 16-year-old daughter of David and Debbie Gentz, was crowned Miss Northeast Alabama's Outstanding Teen on Sunday, July 15, at Southside High School in Southside, securing her third title.
She has also won the titles of Miss Quad Cities Outstanding Teen and Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen.
The Hamilton contestant competed against nine other teens and received several awards, including overall highest talent, onstage question and evening gown.
“I was shocked but extremely thrilled at the same time,” Gentz said. “I am extremely excited to be able to serve and represent the Northeast Alabama community.”
The Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant consists of five phases of competition: private interview with judges, fitness, talent and evening gown and onstage question.
Gentz performs a baton-twirling routine for her talent.
"I really enjoy performing my talent the most, because I love twirling so much. I have been twirling for six years and to be able to showcase that to an audience and judging panel is the best feeling,” Gentz said.
For her talent, Gentz performed a twirling routine to "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra.
Talent counts most for a contestant's score at 35 percent. Interview counts 25 percent, fitness 15 percent and evening gown and onstage question counts 25 percent for a contestant’s overall score.
Community service is another aspect to the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant. Each contestant much develop a service platform in order to compete in the system. Gentz's platform is "We are 1," an awareness campaign for type-1 diabetes.
Gentz works to raise awareness for type-1 diabetes by hosting events, distributing diabetic kits to schools and raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a nonprofit-501 organization that funds type 1 diabetes research.
"Hannah is extremely service-oriented and that is one thing we as directors hope for in our titleholders," said Amy Cummings, co-director of the Miss Northeast and Miss Northeast Alabama's Outstanding Teen Pageant.
Gentz will have the opportunity to represent the Northeast Alabama community in March at the Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen Pageant.
"I compete in the teen pageant, because not only does it give me amazing scholarships and opportunities, but I have been able to meet so many new people and friends," Gentz said.
The Miss America Outstanding Teen Organization is similar to the Miss America Organization in that it is a scholarship pageant.
Teens ages 13-18 can compete in the teen division.
Differences in the two pageants include a fitness phase of competition where competitors complete a routine of specific exercises to display strength and flexibility instead of a swimsuit competition.
"We are so excited that Hannah has been chosen to represent the Northeast community for the next year. Hannah is the type of titleholder and individual that we wished for to represent the title,” said Jarrod Landers, co-director of the Miss Northeast and Miss Northeast Alabama's Outstanding Teen Pageant.
Gentz plans to attend the University of Alabama and to major in occupational therapy.
She is the granddaughter of Gene and Helen Gann, Hamilton, and has three brothers: Taylor, Chandler and Hayden Gentz.